Means and method of supplying treated water to livestock



M. L. CARTER Feb. 13, 1968 IVESTOCK MEANS AND METHOD OF SUPPLYINGTREATED WATER TO L Filed Oct. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MARKQL. CARTER ,dwsfuL ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1968 M. L CARTER 3,363,580

MEANS AND METHOD OF'SUPPLYING TREATED WATER T0 LIVESTOCK 2 Sheets-SheetFiled Oct. 10; 1966 INVENTOR MARK L. CARTER llirull q ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,368,580 MEANS AND METHOD OF SUPPLYING TREATED WATER T0LIVESTOCK Mark L. Carter, P.O. Box 327, Hoven, S. Dak. 57450Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 498,567, Oct. 20, 1965. Thisapplication Oct. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 601,247

3 Claims. (Cl. 137-412) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus fordelivering water containing an automatically controlled proportion ofliquid additive to an ordinary watering trough for livestock.

This is a continuation-in-part of my c'opending application Ser. No.498,567 filed Oct. 20, 1965, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a means and method for supplyingtreated drinking water to livestock. More specifically, this inventionprovides a means and method for automatically mixing an additive in apredetermined proportion to the ordinary drinking water providedlivestock.

It has been found that certain medicines and food supplements are mostadvantageously supplied livestock through their drinking water. Anotherpossibility of supply utilizing the habits of ordinary consumption bythe animals exists in supplying these additives directly with the foodconsumed. However, this latter mode of supply is adaptable to use onlywith solid additives. As the great majority of desirable additives arewater-soluble, they may be supplied more easily through the drinkingwater aflorded the livestock. This avoids selectivity by the animalswhich might otherwise allow them to avoid solid additives in solids.Additionally, an animals demand for water is more regular than itsdemand for food, enabling a more accurate estimate of the amount of suchadditives that will regularly be consumed. Further, many such additivescould not be supplied in solid form but must be supplied the livestockin solution. Consequently, an ideal vehicle for the supply of theseadditives is the drinking water regularly consumed by the livestock.

Previously, devices that have provided automatic proportioning for theintroduction of additives to waterhave been complicated and expensive.Water-actuated pumps are available to pump the additives in apredetermined proportion for mixing in the flowing water. Such devicesheretofore have been of fixed proportion capacity and have requiredeither expensive adjustments or multiple pumps to increase the capacityof the proportioning systern.

Also, aspirators or water jet pumps have been used to add one liquid toanother in predetermined proportions as shown by US. Patents 2,230,201and 2,215,132. They have not had a check valve to prohibit dilution ofthe additive by the water, nor have they been actuated automatically.

A check valve has been actuated by a partial vacuum created by flowingwater as described in US. Patent 2,065,583. But, that device was morecomplicated and designed for an entirely different purpose. It worked toovercome gravitational force rather than enlisting the aid of gravity inits operation. Consequently, that device required a more rapid flow ofwater to actuate the water pump. Some such devices have required aflowing Water pressure of twenty-five pounds or more to operatesatisfactorily.

I have discovered a means and method for accomplishing these resultsthat is much simpler and more flexible Patented F eb., 1 3, 1 968 ICCthan any of those previously known. My method consists briefly of usinga relatively large watering trough with a jar or tank containing theadditive positioned underneath or alongside the trough. A water supplyline may be connected to an ordinary water supply means such as-a pumpand positioned so that the pumped water is delivered to the wateringtrough. This water line may be supplied with a mechanical or electricalvalve and actuating float which will allow the water to flow through thesupply line when the water level in the trough is low enough, and,conversely, will shut off the flow of waterin the supply line when thewater level in the trough reaches a high enough level. The moreexpensive electrical valve is more positive and consequently offers anadvantage of more accurate proportioning of the liquids. This supplyline may also be provided with a constriction to the flow of water atany point therealong but positioned so that near the downstream end ofthis constriction an opening may be provided in the supply line whichleads by way of a tube to a check valve at some distance therealongwhich further extends to the additive-containing liquid in i the jar ortank. This check valve. need only be of simple construction containingonly one moving part, the plug, and means 'by which theadditive-containing liquid can flow past the valve when the valve is inone of two positions and said liquid is stopped from flowing past thevalve when the valve is in the other of two positions. The amount offlow of the additive-containing liquid may be metered by either thecross-sectional area of the terminal end of the tube submerged in saidliquid or a screw valve positioned along the tube leading from saidliquid to the supply pipe carrying the flowing drinking water.

The check valve operates by the force of water pressure. When the wateris not flowing in the supply line, the water level in the supply line ishigher than the additivecontaining liquid level in the jar or tank andthe force of the difference in water levels is sufficient to keep thecheck valve plug tightly closed to the flow of additive. Of course, theconstant pressure of the water in the supply line created by the pumpwould be suflicientt'o keep the check valve closed regardless of thewater levels. Consequently, dilution of the additive-containing liquidby the reverse-flow of supply water is avoided. Conversely, when thedrinking water level in the trough decreases sufliciently to cause thefloat tocut on the flow of the drinking water through the supply line,even a slight flow of water from the supply line into the trough cause arelatively larger surge of water past the constriction in the supplyline which tends to reduce the pressure of the water in the area nearthe downstream end of this constriction. Such reduction in pressure ofthis water allows the gravitational force on the check valve plug andmass orifice at the terminal end 'of the tube inserted in .the

additive-containingliquid or the adjustment of a screw valve locatedeither above or below the check valve inthe tube leading from the jar ortank containing the additive to the supply line. Obviously, theproportion of additive may also be regulated by changingits-concentration in the additive-containing liquid.

A check valve of similar construction may be used near the top of thejar or tank to allow the free flow of air into the jar or tank while theadditive-containing liquid is draining out. Should the waterunexpectedly begin to dilute the additive-containing liquid to the pointof overflow, this valve would be closed by the force of said liquidagainst it to prevent overflow.

Any water-soluble additive may be used successfully in this system. Suchpossible additives include vitamins,

sulfonamides, arsanalates, furacin, Terramycin, Aureornycin,piperazines, and the like.

Additionally, the same system can easily be converted to proportionatenon-internal additives such as insecticides, liquid fertilizers, and thelike.

The check valve may be made of any suitable material such as metal,glass, plastic, or the like. One of the advantages that plastic has overthe others is that troublesome crystallization of the additive on theparts of a plasic valve is less pronounced.

Having broadly described my invention, a more detailed description isafforded by reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a drawing of a watering trough showing the various detailedparts of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a drawing of a check valve assembly that may be used tocontrol the operation of the system.

FIGURE 3 is a drawing of an electrical valve and actuating floatassembly that may be used to start and stop the flow of water to theWatering trough.

In FIGURE 1, water is supplied through the supply line 1 along which isfitted a constriction coupling 2. The water flows out of supply line 1through an ordinary mechanical float valve assembly 3 affixed to theterminal end 'of said line and actuated by an ordinary float 4.

The Water which flows out of the supply line through the float valveassembly 3 is contained by the trough vessel 5 which is fastenedsecurely to the trough chest 6. This trough chest 6 is supplied with acut-out area opening 7 through which access to the water is afforded thelivestock.

A tank 8 is positioned below the trough vessel 5 and connected to thesupply line 1 by a tube 9 shown in greater detail in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 shows how the supply line 1 is connected to the constrictioncoupling 2 by means of a threaded collar 10 at the upstream end and athreaded supply line at the downstream end. Both connections are fittedwith gaskets, 11 and 12, affording a water-tight seal at each end.

The constriction coupling 2 has fastened thereto a rigid check valvebase 13 through which an open shaft is con tained affording an openshaft from the downstream end of the constriction to the plug chamber 14passing through the plug seat 15. This plug seat is notched so thatliquid may flow freely through it regardless of the position of the plug16. The plug is held in place by the shaft through the plug housing 17,which is screwed to the check valve base 13, affording a water-tightseal to the plug chamber 14 when aided by gasket 18.

The check valve end of the tube 9 is pressed over the head of the plughousing 17 and held in position by the circular flange 19. The tank endof the tube 9 is similarly pressed over the rigid shaft housing 20 whichextends through the shell of the tank 8 in a water-tight manner. Thisshaft housing 20 contains an open orifice shaft of constant diameterthrough which the additivecontaining liquid 21 may flow.

As seen in FIGURE 1, the tank 8 is afforded a valve assembly 22 throughwhich air can freely flow. This valve assembly 22 is designed exactlylike the valve assembly 13-19 shown in detail in FIGURE 2 except for theomission of the screw 23 and the opening provided therefor in that valveassembly. The purpose in this valve assembly 22 is to afford the freeflow of air into the tank 8 while the additive-containing liquid isflowing from the tank and provide an automatic closing of this openingto prevent overflow of the additive-containing liquid. The tank 8 can becharged with additive in any desired concentration through the openingprovided for valve assembly 22 or through the tube 9.

FIGURE 3 shows an electrical solenoid-type valve assembly 30 that may beused as a substitute for the mechanical valve assembly 3 and actuatingfloat 4. This electrical valve assembly 30 is attached to supply line 1replacing mechanical valve assembly 3 and actuating float 4. The float40 is heavier than mercury switch 36 and will rotate downward about thepivotal float hinge 37 that is loosely fitted around bolt 39 securedinto float hinge collar 38. If the liquid level in the trough is lowenough so that float 40 as adjusted by float adjustment 41 comes to restat its floating level in the liquid at a point of rotation about pivotalfloat hinge 37 sufiiciently depressed to have elevated mercury switch 36to a point at which the liquid mercury flows into contact withelectrical lead lines 35, the resultant electrical circuit energizes thesolenoid 34. The energized solenoid 34 lifts the spring held pin 33opening valve 32 to the flow of liquid through filter scren 31 into thewatering trough. Conversely, when the liquid level in the trough risesrotating float 40 to a point at which the liquid mercury flows out ofcontact with electrical lead lines 35, the electrical circuit andsolenoid 34 are de-energized allowing the spring held pin 33 to closevalve 32 interrupting the flow of liquid to the watering trough. Theback pressure of the liquid then closes plug 16 in the same manner aswith the mechanical valve 3 and actuating float 4.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for delivering water containing an automatically controlledproportion of liquid additive to an ordinary watering trough forlivestock comprising a pipe having an inlet end and delivery end fordelivery of said water, a metering tube for delivery of said additive tosaid pipe and joined therewith in flow relation, at a point wherein aconstrictive opening is provided in said pipe, said metering tubeincluding an additive-receiving 'orifice at one end thereof of apre-determined cross-sectional area designed to permit a measured flowof additive, a check valve consisting of a plug chamber and a plugpositioned therein, said plug being free to move to at least a firstposition allowing metered How of additive therearound and to a secondposition preventing the flow of water therearound, and an additivedelivery orifice at the other end of said tube of a predeterminedcross-sectional area allowing a measured flow of additive into saidwater pipe at said constrictive opening provided therein, and afloat-actuated, electrical, solenoid-type valve assembly between saidconstrictive opening in the pipe and the delivery end of said pipecapable of providing a positive on-off flow control over theadditive-containing water being delivered through said pipe.

2. Apparatus described in claim 1 in which the metering tube includesadditional metering means to regulate the flow of additive from itssource to the pipe.

3. Apparatus described in claim 2 in which said additional meteringmeans comprises a thumb screw adjustment to said additive flow.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,811,375 6/1931 Wysong 119-7252,588,255 3/1952 Larsh 137604 X 3,129,694 4/1964 Arringt'on 119-81 HUGHR. CHAMBLEE, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL KOREN, Examiner.

